Rockman Sustainor Unboxing And Full Demo - Recorded In Pro Tools Along With The Rockman Stereo Echo 

I wish so bad that Tom had not sold that patent and kept the Rockman company goin. IDK who he sold it to, and maybe other companies have built processors that do the same thing, but I have yet to hear that sound anywhere else. Good demo. I love that sound and your talent is excellent.

Ive got a 200 model, amazing preamps, Dave Mustaine used to run one into his Marshall from 1986-88 for his live rig. Also, John Mayer has quite a few Rockman units in his studio as of late, probably the last person you would expect to but then he is a fan of Hysteria and covered it live once.

I love the old Rockman stuff. The Satriani Amplitube plugin is another option for those who are looking for the Tom Scholz tone. I've actually got the JHS Rock Box, which was essentially a Rockman clone. Incidentally, it was a Rock Box that was used by Def Leppard and Mutt Lange and not the Rockman, although they were both essentially the same thing. I'm also gassing for an ADA MP1 too. Great video as always mate. Carlo 🎸👍🏼

Let's not forget that echo. Sounds huge!

I once had a portable Rockman. Upgraded to the Korg Pandora. The Rockman lives on as a unique device. Thanks for the video!

Marty picked up these units and can’t stop playing.

A few things: The Rhythm volume is only accessible via a footswitch plugged into the Volume jack on the back. Semi Clean only works on Clean 1 to give it some grit/light overdrive. Auto Clean only works on Edge as it is designed to clean up the sound when you roll back on your guitar's volume knob. The Phase Notcher I don't like the sound of as it has too much of that overly cocked wah tone that's not very pleasing. The manual claims it's emulating the sound of a mic'ed up speaker cab but the Sustainor already has a cab sim so I don't know what it's talking about. Finally a "standard" Rockman Rig in addition to the Sustainor and Stereo Echo usually consists of a Rockman Stereo Chorus, Two EQs (one in the Sustainor effects loop and one immediately after the Sustainor output but before the Chorus) and a Rockman Midi Octopus to control the foot switching functions via midi controller. The general consensus also is that Rockman stuff sounds best when going direct into a recording console/PA system and not a guitar amp as that was what it was designed for. Tom Scholz wanted to get his signature sound without using loud guitar amps and overly complicated rig systems. The Rockman sound is definitely a love it or hate it kind of tone and most will agree it is kind of a one trick pony but I do enjoy that sound from time to time.

Next purchase: ADA MP-1. 🙂

The Rythm volume is activated by footswitch allowing you to lower volume for rhythm playing and footswitch to louder lead playing. Nice review. I have the 200 model. The auto clean function only works edge mode and allows you to go from Distortion to clean sound with guitar volume without losing volume/ treble. Really works well ,especially on later 200 models

Iconic. I used to play through this exact setup back in the late '80's! Just a killer sound. ✌😎

This rock man rig was my rig in the 80,s along with a stereo chorus, cs800 power amp into a couple 412 cabs.

I have myself a Sustainor and this thing sounds gorgeous to this very day.

I’ve lent friends my Rockman. They’re always shocked by the sound from a box made in the 80s. Nice grab on the sustainer!

Tom Scholz is an engineer from MIT. The dude, from I understanding, invented the attenuator that goes between the amplifier head and speaker cab. A common thing nowadays. I think it was called Power Soak. His gear is awesome.

There was one point in the early 2000s, between my Rockman purchase at the end of 2001 (that I mentioned in a previous comment) and when I purchased my first Line 6 modeler (in June ‘02) when I wanted one amp model in particular, the Rockman XP100. If memory serves and I’m not confusing things, that is a stereo amp which includes the XPR module (combining the innards of all the RockModules and the Scholz MIDI Octopus into one unit with patch memory) and a pair of reduced-size cabinets that could be detached from each other for transport. That model would’ve been one sick puppy to own, record and gig with.

My favourite guitar sound of all time, both clean and distorted! I have to make do with a little guitar ace but it gets me in the ballpark

Damn man! Those are some rad tones. Versatile as hell! Kudos!

Sounds great Marty! Cool piece.

Tom Scholz genius! invented the Rockman

Kickass Marty I remember messing with those. Sounds yeah. Score. 💥🔥

You find coolest stuff, thanks for sharing.

Awesome Sound & Tone Marty. 😉👍

I love your videos, Marty. Thanks for the content!

Great video! Nice playing! Very inspiring! 🎸🎶

Tom was in the PhD program in Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before dropping out to tour with Boston. Still, I don’t know of too many guitarists that have a Masters degree in engineering, most speak like they didn’t graduate high school. Just sayin’

Marty! I have a couple of trays. I'll give you one.

It's a law you have to play Pour some Sugar on Me , when demoing a Rockman .I love the tone on a Rockman.. It's Screams 80s

Some killer tones Marty!!

Yes, that’s Scholz in a box. I would love to buy these myself, but at our country’s exchange rates, it’s virtually impossible. Enjoy!

I miss my sustainor and chorus echo since I sold them, so regret. Try your new unit with a Marshall Gov'nor out front into almost any tube amp. Glorious

Marty I own a sustainer stereo chours delay I'm glad I didn't sell out I love them

Nice Marty!

Very cool gear video man. Thank you for sharing this! Man these things are cool, expensive though! Seems like you may have found a bit of a deal here. Excellent sound, seems like it's working great too. 😎👍🏻

Nice!!!!! Very cool man! Next you’ll have a klon 🤪

I have a bunch of Rockman units and have paid nothing but reasonable prices - patience pays! So, the reason the Sustainor 200 model goes for so much, as I understand it, *is due to the Auto Clean actually working*. The concept behind the Auto Clean was that when engaged, instead of operating as a volume control, your volume knob would alternate between the Clean 1/2 and Edge/Distort. It just doesn't work on the 100 model (it does add some more gain, though🤷🏾‍♂️) Does that justify the 700-900USD asking prices? Not to me!

I thought Mutt was a guitar genius but it looks like this pedal did the heavy lifting on Hysteria

I remember when they were selling this stuff!

I'm surprised you don't get more Rockman stuff as plug-ins. Amplitube offers the satch /rockman /distortion but that's it.

The cleans are a little digital sounding but there are some great OD sounds in there !

I bought one of the Goat sustainer models. There pretty darn close to the rockmans imho. And quite a bit cheaper. I think there sold out again tho, they sold out twice on the first two shipments

Awesome 💯

Watching you Rockman videos makes me want to get one 👍🤘🎸

I have always wanted the XP100 but they are hard to find and expensive when you do find one.

I have the Distortion Generator. I'm not sure what the "Auto Clean" is supposed to do. When I hit it, nothing changes.

I set mine where the arrows are

Nice

have you ran a bass thru this? i’ve always wondered how this compared to the bass rockmans…

I bought the Tom Scholz Rockman X100 when they came out for about $125-$150 brand new. Now they're selling on Reverb for around $600. Ridiculous. The nuts on your Sustainer are rusted out to the max !!!

How are you pedal switching channels on this?

what do the 'Auto CLN' and 'Semi CLN' do? Apparently the Auto-Cln ' gives you guitar volume clean up, but it doesn't seem to do anything??

pls. check Frank Gambale's rack effects too.

Rock module

How does the sound of the Sustainor compare to the X100? Is it as muffled on Edge & Distortion?

Don’t sound good at all